Wandering Witch Nonō

"Hiss." The sound of a small white snake flicking its tongue echoed in the room. Hui sat before her desk and opened the letter she had received; she hadn't expected Orochimaru to send her to find Nonō.

The introduction was merely a single sentence: Captain of the medical team, wandering witch. With only a location provided, he really seemed to think she could deduce anything!

Hui glanced at the small snake. It met her gaze for a moment before turning and slithering away.

Hui let out a deep sigh. She wasn't sure if Orochimaru wanted her to find Kabuto, especially when Qingsi, a medical powerhouse, was still around.

"Hui, do you want to go get something to eat!" Naruto's loud voice boomed from outside the door. Hui tilted her head to check the time—it was already 12:00. A flurry of footsteps followed, and Naruto pushed the door open; the guy still hadn't learned to knock.

Hui silently stepped forward to block Naruto's view of the desk. "Let's go. I was just about to head out to run an errand anyway."

Naruto's initially cheerful mood instantly deflated. "Why do you have to leave again..." His voice grew quieter, and his disappointment was plain to see.

Hui offered a helpless, gentle smile. She figured Naruto had misunderstood the situation, so she patted his shoulder. "Let's go. I'm coming back; I'm just going out for the afternoon."

Naruto seemed to reignite instantly. "Oh!" He then happily ran to the door to wait for her.

Hui picked up the letter and the notes on the table, tucked them into her bag, and followed Naruto out.

After finishing their meal at Ichiraku, Hui said goodbye to Naruto. Although he insisted on tagging along, Hui refused. She didn't know where the orphanage was, and after wandering around, she still couldn't find it despite following the vague map Orochimaru had provided.

She did pass by some shops on the road, so she went in to buy some snacks out of boredom, intending to share them with Naruto later. However, she encountered a girl crouching on the side of the road, crying. Seeing that shade of cherry-blossom pink, Hui smiled helplessly. I actually found you, Sakura...

"Hey, cute girl, why are you shedding tears here all alone?" Hui walked toward Sakura and spoke.

Sakura looked up at the person before her through tear-blurred eyes. She saw only a sharp, fitted outfit and short red hair, with eyes that held a sense of gentleness and maturity. She blinked, trying to see clearly, but didn't notice another tear fall.

Hui's gaze was drawn to that single tear; she still felt a pang of heartache for this girl.

"Here, take this bag of snacks. Stop crying, okay?" Hui handed all the snacks she had to Sakura and chuckled as she watched the girl look on, stunned by her actions.

Sakura pursed her lips, looking from the snacks to Hui, seemingly embarrassed. Suddenly remembering something, Hui reached into her bag and pulled out a notebook—one she had written herself.

"This is for you. Study the things in here well, and you won't be bullied in the future. Besides, studying when you're sad helps take your mind off things." Hui coaxed her, offering rare words of encouragement.

Sakura stared blankly at the notebook in her hands, at a loss. "I... I..." Her soft, childish voice was filled with hesitation.

"Alright, cute girl, I have to go. See you next time." Hui handed the notebook to Sakura and didn't intend to linger, as Dusu was still nearby, keeping watch.

Sakura stared blankly at the book in her hands, then looked up at the person, only to see him walking away. She only saw his back; she didn't even know his name, yet he had helped her twice. Why was there such a gentle person in the world?

Thinking this, she looked down at the book again. Although she didn't know what it was, she suddenly felt as if this thing could truly change her. With that thought, a smile tugged at the corners of Sakura's mouth.

Hui hadn't expected that by wandering aimlessly, she would actually stumble upon the orphanage. There were a few older children playing by the entrance. Hui didn't see Kabuto. She stood at the gate for a while, and the older children noticed her. They split into two groups; one group walked toward her, while the other headed inside the building.

Hui looked up at the group in front of her. They smiled at her in a friendly manner. "Who are you? What are you doing here? Are you lost?"

A barrage of questions was thrown at her, but Hui didn't answer. She just tilted her head and smiled, her childlike eyes fixed on them. The others asked a few more questions, but Hui remained silent, offering only a faint smile. Seeing they couldn't get anything out of her, they didn't know what to do—could she be a mute?

An older girl stepped forward and took her hand. "It's okay, we'll take you to the director. She's very kind!" Hui looked at the girl, smiled again, and followed her inside, with the other children trailing behind.

As it happened, the other group of children had already brought the director over. Hui recognized Nonō at a glance; her golden-blonde hair draped over her shoulders, and she radiated an indescribable, saintly aura.

Hui's eyes flickered. Although she didn't know why Orochimaru wanted her to come here, she had thought about seeking her out herself, and Orochimaru had even provided the convenience.

Nonō frowned as she looked at Hui. She didn't think this child was an orphan; her gear looked more like that of a ninja, so she asked, not particularly warmly, "What are you doing here?"

The other children looked at Nonō, confused. Hui smiled and said, "I want to learn medical ninjutsu from you."

The wariness in Nonō's eyes deepened. She stared straight at Hui, rarely encountering someone so blunt about their intentions.

"Please, I searched for a long time to find you. I've been self-studying medical ninjutsu lately, but I haven't made any progress." Hui looked at Nonō sincerely. These words were indeed her true feelings, so she had a clear conscience, and there wasn't a trace of deception in her eyes.

Nonō paused. As a member of the reconnaissance team, she was an expert at scrutinizing suspects, but she could never bring herself to be harsh with children. However, such requests were always impossible to grant.

"This isn't something one can just learn casually," Nonō said with a sigh.

"Please give me a chance, and please believe in me!" Hui said solemnly, a light seemingly dancing in her eyes. Nonō found it impossible to refuse the expectant gaze of a child.

"...Fine, come inside with me first." Nonō turned and walked toward the house. Hui smiled, ignoring the commotion starting among the children around her, and followed Nonō inside.

"Why does she want to learn medical ninjutsu from the director?"

"Who knows? I just didn't expect her to pretend to be mute earlier," another companion said unhappily.

Hui followed behind Nonō. She had expected to face some sort of test, but she hadn't expected to see a young Kabuto. Hui's pace slowed, and she stared at him blankly for a moment.

Nonō noticed she had fallen behind and turned to look. Hui quickly composed herself, masking her emotions as she asked, "Who is this? He looks... very..." Hui didn't finish her sentence, but Nonō likely understood what she meant; Kabuto always gave off a cold impression.

Kabuto looked at her with dead-fish eyes, his expression devoid of any fluctuation. Nonō looked at Kabuto and said, "Kabuto, could you test her medical aptitude?"

She didn't have the time to teach others medical ninjutsu one-on-one, but letting Kabuto try wouldn't be a bad idea. If the girl had talent, she could let her learn under Kabuto.

Kabuto looked calmly at Nonō, then turned to Hui. He walked to a table, picked up a book, and handed it to her.

Hui looked down at the book in her hands, then looked at Kabuto, confused.

"This is the most basic knowledge. Read it first; I'll quiz you in a while," Kabuto said indifferently. He turned to look at Nonō, who nodded, glanced at Hui Youling, and left the room.

Hui's gaze followed Nonō as she left, feeling a bit bewildered. Where was she going?

"No need to look. I can be responsible for teaching you some things," Kabuto said with a detached tone, making a rather arrogant statement. Hui sighed helplessly in her heart; why were all these geniuses like this?

Kabuto walked to the side of the table and began reading again. Hui opened the book and started studying seriously. Seeing that the book contained only basic knowledge, she felt a small sense of relief.

Before long, Kabuto came over. He asked a few questions, all of which Hui answered correctly. Kabuto didn't ask any more; he stared straight at Hui and said, "Have you ever tried casting medical ninjutsu?"

Hui Youling was feeling quite pleased with herself, but when she heard his question, she froze, awkwardly stammering, "...That, it's still too complex, I... I can't yet..."

Kabuto continued to stare at her with his signature dead-fish eyes. "Let me see."

Hui Youling had no choice but to bite the bullet and try, only to fail as expected. Kabuto took a look, stepped forward, and said, "Try spreading your chakra across your palm; don't concentrate it too much."

Hui Youling gave it another go, and the green chakra actually held steady for a moment.

"Alright, take this book and have a look." Having said that, he walked away. Hui Youling stared at his retreating back in a daze—another book, really? She sighed helplessly and found a spot to start reading. The two of them spent the rest of the time in the room, each buried in their own book.

Hui Youling stole glances at Kabuto from time to time, noticing that he was also reading a thick volume. His expression was so cold and indifferent, a total poker face; no wonder the others were a bit afraid to get close to him.

By evening, Hui Youling knew better than to overstay her welcome. The orphanage's budget couldn't afford to support an idler like her, and she had no reason to stay behind and mooch off their meals.

Hui Youling tucked away the book Kabuto had given her and bid him farewell. "Kabuto, I'm heading out now."

Hearing her voice, Kabuto turned his head with a flat expression, gave her a glance, and uttered a simple "Mn." He then turned back to focus intently on his book, completely ignoring Hui Youling's presence.

Hui Youling chuckled helplessly and asked, "Can I come back tomorrow?"

Kabuto didn't answer the question. Hui Youling shrugged; silence meant consent, or at least that was how she chose to interpret it.

"Then I'll be going. I'll come by tomorrow at noon to ask you some questions." Deciding not to make things more awkward, she finished her sentence and turned to leave.

Kabuto's gaze shifted toward Hui Youling as she exited the room, his indifferent face remaining entirely devoid of expression.

As soon as she stepped outside, the other children at the orphanage swarmed around her. "Are you really just here to study?"

Hui Youling looked at them, puzzled, not quite understanding what they meant, but she answered truthfully anyway. "I'm here to learn medical ninjutsu."

Suddenly, someone leaned in and asked, "How did you manage to strike up a conversation with Kabuto?"

Hui Youling shrank back; she couldn't exactly tell them it was by having a thick skin. She gave an awkward laugh. "I just talked to him. Actually, he's not as cold as he seems."

The children pondered this for a moment and nodded, looking impressed despite not fully understanding. Hui Youling took the opportunity to slip away.

Leaving the orphanage, Hui Youling looked back. If not for the buildings, the whole place looked incredibly desolate, cold, and lonely, as if it were being ostracized. In truth, Konoha wasn't all that accepting of orphans from other villages.

Since Nonō had agreed to teach her medical ninjutsu, she would have to do her best to help out in return. After all, this would be her place of study from now on, and she couldn't let this kindness go to waste.